I know you have heard many wonderful stories about our burning private property on that raid. If any other than this house was burnt, I am not aware of it. All other property that I saw burning was U. S. Government property, and that we considered our sacred duty to destroy whenever and wherever we found it, especially if we did not have transportation for it.
When almost in sight of town we turned off of the main approach upon a side road, leading to the right and the rear of the town, with the intention of flanking and getting in the enemy’s rear, while the brigade assaulted in front.
We had not proceeded more than one-half mile when we noticed three women standing in a yard in front of a house, crying bitterly and wringing their hands as though their hearts would break. The column passed silently and respectfully, but the silence lasted only until they had passed the house, then you might have heard them saying to each other, “Look out, boys, the Yankees are near,” and soon all were closely inspecting their arms, capping their Enfields, and arranging navies so as to be speedily handled. Those women, by their tears, informed us in a simple, but reliable, way that the enemy was close by. Soldiers do not know a truer sign. Anticipation of a battle and the anxiety concerning the safety of some loved one caused those tears to flow. This we well knew by actual experience and observation.
So it happened. We had gone scarce two hundred yards before our line received a terrific and well directed volley from nearly three hundred stands of arms, wounding and killing twelve of our column.
In an instant the line was dismounted, and forwarding quickly into a line of battle charged them with a yell and with great determination, driving them with no little loss from their ambuscade, with little loss to ourselves.
While pursuing them hotly, to within a short distance of the road in the rear of the town, our foe unexpectedly ran into the Third Kentucky, who had flanked the town on the left, and to them they surrendered without conditions. But until the white flag was hoisted we never ceased firing, neither could the Third resist the temptation of giving a broadside to bring them to a stand. The prisoners were taken into town by the Third.
We advanced out the Albany road, and it was not long before we discovered a squad of Yankees, although we remained unnoticed by them. Company B received orders to attack them. By advancing to the brow of the hill we concealed ourselves behind a fence until the enemy ascended quite near, then rising and firing my navy, that being the signal for B to open fire, we poured such a hot fire into them that it caused a stampede unrivaled in war, which I shall never forget if I should live for a thousand years. I will wager that “Harrison County Home Guards” can beat the world running, get them frightened or panic stricken.
Mounting our horses again we marched till we arrived at the forks of the road, four miles from town, where Hines concealed his force, except Company B, in an orchard behind a thick hedge. He then ordered my company to take post in a large log stable, immediately within the fork, with instructions to invite all passersby in, as they arrived.
Upon concealing my men I took position alongside of the road, and as the Yankees came by in twos, fours, and up to companies, hurrying to Corydon to reinforce Colonel Jordan, the commandant, I would step out, as a representative of the “Home Guards,” and take them in charge, or rather in the stable, disarm them gently, and send them under guard to Captain Hines.
This deception was successfully carried on till the firing in town had ceased, when we started to the town with over one hundred prisoners, which, as we confidently supposed, was in the possession of our men. Turning our prisoners over to the provost guard, who had nearly seven hundred to parole, we were soon on the road to Salem, Colonel Dick commanding.